Maurizio Sarri is officially the new manager of Chelsea, replacing Antonio Conte, after his contract with Napoli was terminated.
He has put pen to paper on a three-year deal, believed to be worth €6m per season.
Above all, today he signed the termination with Napoli and is already in London to begin the new adventure.
The tactician had been chosen weeks ago, maybe even months, but various contractual situations made the move very complex.
Maurizio Sarri is officially the new manager of Chelsea, replacing Antonio Conte, after his contract with Napoli was terminated.
He has put pen to paper on a three-year deal, believed to be worth €6m per season.
Above all, today he signed the termination with Napoli and is already in London to begin the new adventure.
The tactician had been chosen weeks ago, maybe even months, but various contractual situations made the move very complex.
Although Sarri was sacked by Napoli to make way for Carlo Ancelotti, he remained under contract and President Aurelio De Laurentiis wanted compensation.
According to the latest reports, Sarri has been allowed to leave in a double deal for midfielder Jorginho at a cost of €57m plus €8m in bonuses.
Chelsea also pledged not to buy any of Napoli’s other star players while Sarri is on the bench and would have to pay a penalty fine if they do.
“We thank Maurizio Sarri for the work done over the last three years,” read a Napoli statement.
“Work that allowed a growth and increase in value of the Napoli squad, confirming them as top players and producing football whose quality was appreciated all over the world.
“We wish Maurizio can find, wherever he goes, that warmth, respect and consideration that all of us in Naples never denied him. All the best to you, Maurizio.”
Conte was formally sacked yesterday, but a legal battle is on the horizon there too, as the club is trying to fire him for 'just cause' and therefore avoid paying the €11m compensation to him and his staff.
Chain-smoking Sarri is 59 years old and came late to football, working with non-league sides at the same time as his career in banking.
He came to Empoli in June 2012, then on to Napoli in 2015, where his side entertained and earned plaudits from all over the world, above all from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Napoli under his 148-game tenure won 98 games, drew 25 and lost 25, scoring 318 goals and conceding 143.
Image via chelseafc.com
Maurizio Sarri is the new Chelsea head coach!
Full story: https://t.co/qQwb5xZT3f#WelcomeSarri pic.twitter.com/DCNfoVCoz6
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 14, 2018